Cooling of liquids



mass

une 3, i930: T. s, MERRYLEES COOLING oF LIQUDs Filed July 1e, 192s a sheets-sheet 2 INVENToRL- Thomas Swag/lees,

f Vl, W

S E 4 m.

r@TTORNEYS Patented Jime- 3 19.30

*UNITED 'STATES i '-THoIAss. or YEADoN, rEnNsnvAN'rAf cocane 'or nieuwe 'Apenas-uch lui-.i1 :anyv 1s,

This invention relates to cooling or refrigeration of liquids, particularly drlnking wa teror beverages; its object vbein'gto render practical the use of solid carbon dioxide or 5 the like 'as a refrigerant for`- the purpose. The solid product is manufactured from the gas which, by compression, coolin and expanding is converted into snow akes and the 'snow ilakessubsequently compressed into blocks of suitable size for convenience in handling and shipment commercially. Carbon dioxide as a solid has a temperature -of -1090 F., hence this solid contains a plus quantity of refrigeration. It -sublimates when attacked by heat, i. e. the carbonv dioxide returning tothe original gaseous state without leaving either a liquid or a solidV residue. Evaporation takes place moreover without objectionable or harmful results since the'gasis absolutely ordorless, tasteless and non-poisonous. One way in which advantage may be taken of the described favorable and highly desir# able characteristics of solid carbon dioxide to cool or refrigerate liquids economically with avoidance of freezing will be manifest from the detailed description whichfollows when ltaken in connection. with the attached drawings.

Fig. I is a perspective view of a novel water cooler of the invert bottle or fountain type convenient to the practice of my invention. Fig. II is a plan sectional view of the cooler taken about midway of its height.

Figs. III and IV are. verticalsections respectlvely in planes'at right angles, taken as indicated by the arrows'III-'III and `IV--IV in Fig. II; and,

Fig. V is a fragmentary detail sectional 4 view of the structure featuring a valve which operates to relieve excess pressure incidental to evaporation of the expanded carbon dioxide gas within the cooler. v

As herein shown, the cooler comprises a 45 receptacle in the form of a cylindrical well 10 preferably fashioned from orcelain or the like` semi-insulatory materia with a circumferential ange 11 about its top, the said;

ange being recessed as at 12 for lodgment of a cushioning gasket 13 to support a con- 24 extending about the jacket'15. i

192s. serial nel naiss. j

-tainer-'er bottle 14 for theliquid which is to be refrigerated. In the present instance, theA bottle 14 is inverted with. its neck duid-sealed within the receptacle .10, thus constituting a font from which a continuous supplygof the liquid is avialable at'said rece tacle.' A heavy insulato'ry jacket 15,preferaly of'cork composition or the like, snugly embraces the re-` ceptacle'except for a very narrow clearance interval or passage 16 immediately about the side wall of the latter. At Vdiainetricall'y opposite points the jacket 15 affords h`ollows 17, which, in practice, are just large en/ou h to accommodatestandard size blocks'B of t e refrigerant,-say, for example, half pound blocks measuring,approximately 4 by 2 by 1 inches. As'shown, the'hollows 17 communicate directly with the. interval or passage 16 aforesaid, and are protected by removable closures 18 havin a wed e'fit intothejacket 1 To insure uid tigtness, the closures 18 are edge lined with suitable sealing ma-I terial as at 19', and firmly secured in position by clamp devices generally designated by the? numeral 20.'. These clam devices 20may each 7.5 comprise, as shown in igs. I- and II, a pair of inter-en aging draw members 21,22 which are res ectively attached, bymeansof interposed l1nks^23, to the Vends :of a Vdivided strap'` 1 In order to positively maintain the blocks B of the refrigerant in surface pressure conltact withthose portions of the -sidiiivallof the receptacle 10 exposed withinthe hollows 17, I provide means which include presser members having the form-of plates25 that are subject tothe urge of compression springs 26 occupying metal lined recesses 27 in the closures 18. Movement of the presser plates 25 is guided through attached pins 28 slidable in sockets 29 in the closures 18 above and below the' spring recesses 27, and retained in .assembly with said closures as aconsequence of cooperation between stop heads 30 onv the inner ends of the guide pins 28 and the contiguous ends of the metallic bushings 31 lining'the sockets 29.

`The receptacle 10 is drained through a plpe connection 32 extending radially through t e 10 side wall of the acket l5 to the exterior where erated gas ex anding to the extent of nine cubic feet to t e pound at atmospheric pres'- sure) I provide a duct 35 Which leads down- -Ward to the exterior through the insulate wall of the jacket 15 from a point at the top of the interval or passage 16 Vabout the receptacle 10. At its outer end, this duct 35 is Afitted with' an automatic relief valve 36 in which the closure ball 37 is normally held against itsseat by a'spring 38, as shown in lFig. V.

In operationhit will be seen that'the Wat-er in the receptaclelO is cooled through direct contact of the ice' blocks B with the wall of ceptacle 10', and, in so doing, cools the latter L in, the intervalsbetween the regionsof direct contact of said blocks. `Byy reason of the smallness of the diffusing passage 16 evaporation is effectively held in check or retarded with attendant leconomy in the consumption of the ice blocks B.' When the pressure builds up to a point where the spring 38 of the relief valve 36 is overcome, the ball 37 is displaced from its seat to permit escape of the excess from time to time. Danger of freezing of the liquid within the receptacle 10 is obviated as a consequence of exposure of the Amain sugply within the bottle 14 to atmospheric in uencel With a five gallon bottle cooler constructed in accordance with my invention, a pound of solid carbon dioxide can be made to servefor a period of 15 hours or more with maintenance of the water in the receptacle .10 at a palatable temperature. Usuall it takes about 25 pounds of ordinary cracked1 ice to attain the same end, costin as much, if not more, than a single poun Aof the dry ice. The eiciency of my improved cooler is attributable to its novel construction -especially in view of the smallness of the space 16 allotted interiorly for evaporation 'of the ice blocks B, the proportionate thickness of the insulating mater1al 15, and direct surface pressure contact of the ice blocks B with the wall of the receptacle 10 containing the `liquid being refrigerated.

From the foregoing it will be further seen` that the cooler o my invention is simple and Inexpensive to construct, easily charged with the refrigerant, and never needs any atten tion as regardscleaning or draining as is the case with coolers designed for use of ordinary ice, since the carbon dioxide evaporates completely without either liquid or solid residue.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a liquid cooler adapted for use of solidified carbon dioxide, a receptacle for the liquid, and an insulating jacket snugly embracing the receptacle except for provision of a hollow to accommodate a charge of the solid refri erant in 'contact with a portion of the wall of said receptacle.

2. In a 1i uid cooler adapted for use of solidified car on dioxide, a receptacle for the liquid, and an insulatin jacket surrounding the rece tacle to be re igerated with provision o a narrow diffusing assage thereabout and a communicating in contact with the wall of said receptacle.

3. In a li uid cooler adapted for use of solidified cailionfdioxide, a refrigerating receptacle containing the liquid, and an insulating jacket surrounding the receptacle with provision thereabout of a narrow diffusing passa e and a communicating hollow to-accommo ate a charge of the 'solid refrigerant in contact with the wall of the receptacle, said passage having ipressure relief by way of aduct leading through the insulation of the jacket to the exterior.

4. In a li uid cooler adapted for use of solidied car on dioxide, a receptacle for the liquid, an insulating jacket surrounding the receptacle with provision thereabout of a narrow di'usin passage and a communicating'hollow to accommodate a charge of the solid refrigerant,said passage having communication with the exterior by way of a duct leadin downward through the insulation f the jaiet, and a valve controlling relief of excess pressure attendant upon evaporation of the refri erant within the cooler.

5. In a liquid cooler adapted for use o solidified carbon dioxide, a refrigerating receptacle containing the liquid, and an insu ating jacket snugly embracin the receptacle except for provision of a ollow just large enough to accommodate a block of the solid refrigerant in surface pressure contact with a portion .of the wall of said receptacle.

6. In a li'uid cooler adapted for use of solidified car on dioxide, va receptacle for the liquid, an insulating jacket snugly embracing the receptacle except vfor provision of a hollow. to accommodate a charge of the solid refrigerant, and means operative to maintain the refrigerant in contact with a portion of the wall of said rece tacle.

7. In a liquid coo er adapted for use of .solidifiedl carbon dioxide, a receptacle for the liquid, an insulating acket lsurrounding the receptacle with provision of a hollow just large enough to accommodate a block of the solid'refrigerant, and means operative to yieldingly maintain the block of the refri erant in surface pressure contact with said receptacle. v .V

8. lIn a li uid cooler-adapted for use of solidified ca n dioxide a receptacle for the liquid, an insulating j'a et surrounding the ollow to accommodate a charge of the solid refrigerant seal.

receptacle with provision of` a hollow just large enough to accommodate a block of the sold refrigerant, a .removable closure permitting access to the hollow, and means onthe closure for maintaining the block of the refrigerant yieldin ly in surface pressure contact with the wal e of the receptacle aforesaid. 9. In a li uid cooler adapted for use of solidified car ondioxide, a receptacle for the liquid, an insulating jacket surrounding'the receptacle with porvison of a hollow just large enough to accommodate a block of the sold refrigerant, a removable closure for the hollow, and a spring urged member on the closure to bear against the block of the refrigerant in maintaining it in surface pressure contact with the wall of the receptacle aforesaid.

10. In a'liquid cooler adapted for use of solidified carbon dioxide, a receptacle for the liquid, an insulating jacket .surrounding .the receptacle with provision of a hollow just large enough to accommodate a block of the solid refrigerant, a closure for the hollow having a wedge fit with the insulating ]acket, means on the closure for maintaining the block of the refrigerant yieldingly in surface pressure contact with the wall of the receptacle aforesaid, and means for securing the closure in place with assurance of an air tight 11. In a liquid cooler adapted for use of solidified carbon dioxide, a receptacle .for the liquid, aninsulating jacket surrounding the receptacle with provision of a hollow to accommodate a charge of the solid refrigerant, a closure for the hollow having a wedge fit with the insulatin jacket, and 'clamp strap means to secure t e closure with assurance of an air tight seal. 'l

12. In a liquid cooler adapted for use of solidified carbon dioxide, a receptacle for liquid to be cooled delivered from an exteriorly exposed inverted container constituting a continuous supply f ont, and an insulating j acketsnugly em racing the receptacle except for provision of a hollow to accommodate a charge of the solid refrigerant 1n contact with a portion of the wall of the rej ceptacle.

13. In a li liquid to be cooled delivered from an exteriorly exposed inverted container constitutin a continuous supply font, and an insulating jacket surroundin the receptacle with provision thereabout o a narrow diffusing passage and a communicatin hollow to accommodate a charge of the solid refrigerant in contact with the wall of the receptacle.

14. In a li uid cooler adapted for use of solidified car on dioxide, a receptacle for liquid to be cooled deliveredffrom an exteriorly exposed inverted. container consti- 6 tuting a continuous supply font, and an i n uid cooler adapted for use of solidified car on dioxide, a receptacle for.

sulating jacket surrounding the receptacle with provision thereabout of a narrow diffusing passage and communicating hollowsl at diametrically opposite points to accommodate charges of the solid refrigerant in contact with the wall of the receptacle, said diffusing passage having pressure relief by Way of a duct leadin downward through the insulation of the jac et to the exterior, closures affording access to the hollows aforesaid, and means to secure the closures with assurance of an air tight seal. i

15. In a liquid cooler adapted for use of solidified carbon dioxide, a receptacle for liquid to be cooled delivered from an exteriorly exposed inverted bottle constituting a continuous supply font, an insulating jacket surrounding the receptacle with provision of hollows at diametrically" opposite points to accommodate charges of the solid refrigerant in contact with the wall of the receptacle, and removable closures affordingA access to the hollows aforesaid. 16. In a li uid cooler adapted for use of solidified car on dioxide, a receptacle for liquid to be cooled delivered from an exteriorly-exposed inverted bottle constituting a continuous supply font, an insulating jacket surrounding the receptacle with provision of hollows at iametrically opposite points just large enough to accommodate` blocks of the solid refrigerant, closures affording access to the hollows',- and means on the closures for maintaining the blocks of the refrigerant yieldingly in surface pressure, contact with the wall of the receptacle aforesaid.

17. The method of refrigeratiig liquids without freezing them by use of solidified carbon dioxide maintained by non-gravita-v tional pressure in outside surface contact with the wall of a semi-insulator material receptacle containing the liquid-being refrig.- erated.

18. The method of refrigerating liquids" without freezing them by use fof-a block of solidified carbon dioxide maintained by inechanical pressure in outside surface contact with the wall of a porcelain receptacle containin the liquid being refrigerated.y

19. he method of refrigerating liquids without freezing them by use of a block of solidified carbon dioxideinaintained under mechanically-enforced pressure, while protected against external atmospheric influence, Y

atmospheric influence.

21. Ina liquid cooler adapted for'use of solidified carbon dioxide, a ceramic refrig- Y erating receptacle containing the liquid, and

an insulating jacket surrounding the recepta-` cle with provision thereahout of a narrow diffusing passage and a' communicating hollow to accommodate a charge of the solid refrigerant in outside surface pressure-contact with the Wall of the receptacle, said passage having pressure relief by way of a ductl leading through the insulation of the jacket to the exterior. 7

` 22. In a liquid cooler adapted for use of solidified carbon dioxide, a porcelain recep tacle for the liquid, an insulating jacket surrounding the receptacle with provision thereabout o a narrow diffusing passage and a j communicating hollow to accommodate a charge of the solid refrigerant, in outside surface pressure-contact with the wall of the receptacle, said passage having communication with the exterior by way of a duct-leading through the insulation of thev jacket, and a valve at the outer end of said duct controlling relief of excess pressure attendant u n evapnoration of the refrigerant within t e cooler.

23. The method of cooling liquids without freezing them b .use of a solidified binarycompound capable'of sublimation without residue maintained by nonfgravita'tional pressure-.influence 'in outside surfacefcontact gravitational pressure-influence in outside with the wall of fa semi-insulatory container `containing the liquid being cooled.

24. The method of cooling liquids without freezing them by use of a solidified frigoriic binary-'compound capableof sublimation Without residue and maintained under non- Surface-contact with the Wall of a porcelain receptacle containing the liquid being refrigerated. 25. The method of refrigerating .liquids without freezing them .by the use of solidified carbon dioxide maintained under nongravitational pressure-influence` in outside surface-'contact with thev Wall of aceramio .receptacle containingv the liquid being yrefrigerated. 'Q I v 26. A liquid cooler for the purpose set forth comprising a ceramic rece tacle for the liquld being cooled, an exterior y exposed inverted container seating on said rece tacle and constituti'n a continuous supply ont, an insulating me ium base in which the ceramic receptacle substantially seats, said base havin .opposed cavities accommodating soli lfied blocks of carbon dioxide, removable closures for said cavities, and means assoclated Vwith l said closures yieldingly sustaining the aforesaid blocks in surfacepressure contactV with the wall of the ceramic receptacle.

f In witness whereof,`I have hereunto signed myname at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 13th day lof Jul ,1928. i

. TH MAS S. MERRYLEES.

y 1,7e1,oes 

